we were taking a ferry across mekong river as the new bridge wasn't yet opened, at the border into vietnam for the first time the luggage got checked. Coming into ho chi minh city took over an hour, the towns size & general traffic, specially the amount of motorcicles, was impressive as well as the greenery. Being dropped off at the backpacker district steve & I quickly found a nice place with a local family in a quiet alley & went for a walk to notre dame, a temple, saigon river & downtown; everywhere the parks & greenery was being looked after intensively, maybe in preparation for the upcoming 40th anniversary of the victory. After some searching the myanmar consulate was found the next morning (visa application will require some preparation) & visited the markets of chinatown, before we teamed up again & with the other two later that night. Their missing moped was purchased the next morning, so our ways parted. Following an extensive walk (first rain for me in vietnam) a nightbus took me to dalat.
The morning was surprisingly chilly & with sunrise went to town to check for a canyoning tour & had a great day out hiking, climbing, floating & abseiling in a nearby valley with loads of other people & good guides. In a hostel there was great company & the idea of taking a easy rider tour for the next few days came.
The following morning Bom was advicing the tour & shortly after we hit the road. Passing extensive agricultural areas (eg strawberries, artichokes, flowers) we passed through great sceneries of the hilly landscapes, stopped for weasel coffee (coffee fed to weasels/ferrets before being grinded to the actual product - a bit smoother, less bitter) in some of the very extensive coffee plantation area, but also went along rice paddies (in Vietnam from 2 up to 4 harvests a year) & tea plantations, to see the elephant waterfall, got into rain on the last few kilometers before reaching bao loc.

Vietnam #: 01653973185